How To Think Like A (Good) Lawyer

Do you wish that you could think like a lawyer? It doesn’t matter how educated you are or how high your IQ is; anyone can learn to think like a lawyer. There is a way of thinking that lawyers apply to cases which anyone can learn themselves. With some practice, you can perfect the art of thinking like a lawyer too.

If you want to alter your way of thinking so that you think like a good lawyer, check out the 6 steps below.

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1. Be able to see both sides of the argument

Some people think it is insincere to be able to see both sides of the argument, but it doesn’t mean that lawyers don’t have a side. It simply means they understand that both sides may have valid points. Seeing both sides of the argument will increase your tolerance and allow you to solve problems quickly.

2. Approach the problem from every angle

Seeing the argument from both sides is the first step, but great lawyers go even further. Seeing all possible angles of the argument will allow you to predict any issues that may arise before they do.

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For instance, if you see a woman injure herself in a restaurant because of a puddle without a sign next to it, you will be able to see things from her viewpoint. A good lawyer will then see the situation through the viewpoint of the restaurant, the other staff working, the manager, the cleaner, the other customers and even the owner of the building. This allows the lawyer to see the whole picture.

3. Don’t become emotionally invested

The phrase ‘blinded by emotion’ is very accurate; when you are emotionally involved your feelings can be irrational or biased. This can stop you from seeing important facts, and you may place too much importance on little details. To think like a good lawyer you must have no personal interest so that you can focus solely on the facts. This will help you to see what is important or relevant (and what isn’t) so that you can draw an unbiased conclusion.

4. Avoid making assumptions

All good lawyers avoid making assumptions. Much like emotions, assumptions can stop you from seeing the whole picture. Realize that something is only a fact if there is evidence. If you assume something, focus on finding some evidence so that the assumption can become a fact. This will help you to create an airtight argument that is difficult to pick apart.

5. Use syllogisms

A syllogism is a type of deductive reasoning that is often used by lawyers. There are three parts to a syllogism; a general statement, a particular statement and then a conclusion that draws the first two together.

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For instance, for a general statement you could say ‘it is unhygienic to serve food on unclean plates, and it shows negligence.’ This statement is universally applicable, and it would be very difficult to argue against. The particular statement is more specific. For instance you could say ‘the food in this restaurant is served on unclean plates. The conclusion ties the other two points together to create an airtight argument, such as ‘This restaurant is unhygienic and shows negligence.’

6. Ask “Why?”

We have all spent time around a child who is continuously asking ‘why?’ This may be a little annoying at the time, but a good lawyer thinks the same way. Every law exists for a reason and the policy behind each law covers the reason why the law exists. Knowing the policy can help you to apply different situations to certain laws, helping you to build a solid argument and reach a logical conclusion.

How to Be Productive at Home and Make Every Day a Productive Day

If you’ve ever wondered how to be productive at home or how you could possibly have a more productive day, look no further.

Below you’ll find six easy tips that will help you make the most out of your time:

1. Create a Good Morning Routine

One of the best ways to start your day is to get up early and eat a healthy breakfast.

CEOs and other successful people have similar morning routines, which include exercising and quickly scanning their inboxes to find the most urgent tasks.[1]

You can also try writing first thing in the morning to warm up your brain[2] (750 words will help with that). But no matter what you choose to do, remember to create good morning habits so that you can have a more productive day.

If you aren’t sure how to make morning routine work for you, this guide will help you:

2. Prioritize

Sometimes we can’t have a productive day because we just don’t know where to start. When that’s the case, the most simple solution is to list everything you need to get accomplished, then prioritize these tasks based on importance and urgency.

Week Plan is a simple web app that will help you prioritize your week using the Covey time management grid. Here’s an example of it:[3]

If you get the most pressing and important items done first, you will be able to be more productive while keeping stress levels down.

Lifehack’s CEO, Leon, also has great advice on how to prioritize. Take a look at this article to learn more about it:

3. Focus on One Thing at a Time

One of the biggest killers of productivity is distractions. Whether it be noise or thoughts or games, distractions are a barrier to any productive day. That’s why it’s important to know where and when you work best.

4. Take Breaks

Focusing, however, can drain a lot of energy and too much of it at once can quickly turn your productive day unproductive.

To reduce mental fatigue while staying on task, try using the Pomodoro Technique. It requires working on a task for 25 minutes, then taking a short break before another 25 minute session.

After four “pomodoro sessions,” be sure to take a longer break to rest and reflect.

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I like to work in 25 and 5 minute increments, but you should find out what works best for you.

5. Manage Your Time Effectively

A learning strategies consultant once told me that there is no such thing as free time, only unstructured time.

How do you know when exactly you have free time?

By using the RescueTime app, you can see when you have free time, when you are productive, and when you actually waste time.

With this data, you can better plan out your day and keep yourself on track.

Moreover, you can increase the quality of low-intensity time. For example, reading the news while exercising or listening to meeting notes while cooking. Many of the mundane tasks we routinely accomplish can be paired with other tasks that lead to an overall more productive day.

A bonus tip, even your real free time can be used productively, find out how:

6. Celebrate and Reflect

No matter how you execute a productive day, make sure to take time and celebrate what you’ve accomplished. It’s important to reward yourself so that you can continue doing great work. Plus, a reward system is an incredible motivator.

Additionally, you should reflect on your day in order to find out what worked and what didn’t. Reflection not only increases future productivity, but also gives your brain time to decompress and de-stress.